China's cinema has been rising for some time; it has more exposure, so
my chances of becoming internationally known are better. But the first
thing I have to do is learn English. If I can grasp the language, then
perhaps I can think about the U.S. .
I knew
nothing about martial arts. And I don't really like it! But in the film,
I not only had to pretend that I knew all about it, I had to be the best
at it. That was very difficult.
I suspect
people always thought I had a boyfriend, so nobody came after me.
I wanted to
become a kindergarten teacher like my mother.
I was
always covered with injuries.
I was born
after the Cultural Revolution, so I really haven't felt any dramatic
change. My life has been quite comfortable.
In China,
we don't consider someone truly beautiful until we have known them for a
long time, and we know what's underneath the skin. .
It's not
that I wanted to be an actor; it's that I didn't want to be a dancer! I
was trained in traditional Chinese dance, and after working so hard it
seemed unfair to just disappear into a group. .
My parents
sent me to a dance class, so it was a road chosen by them, not me. But I
enjoyed it so much I knew I would become a performer. .
Whatever
you see - any good results - are all from the pressure.
When I was
nineteen, Zhang Yimou was looking for an actress for a shampoo
commercial, and I auditioned. But he was also looking for somebody to
work with later on, so that's how I was discovered.
In China, we don't consider
someone truly beautiful until we have known them for a long time, and we
know what's underneath the skin.
After Crouching Tiger Wo hu
cang long , there was a big change for me, with all the attention thrust
upon me. I got lot of work: my first Hollywood film, Rush Hour 2 , and a
lot of advertisements in Asia. I think for me it's a very good part of
my life. I've been lucky, because I've had great characters to play. Now
I really want to work with good directors.
You know, I never think I can
become an actress. But it happened. Not because I dreamed it, but
because it happened.
It's my first time in a lead
and I have to speak English! In a Japanese accent!
It was so hard working for
him, but I like the challenge. We don't learn the script, every day we
had to, erm ... improvise.
For Western women, it's much
easier to be yourself. If you want to do something, you just go and do
it. In an Asian context, women are still much more modest and
conservative. I want, through my roles, to express the parts in the
hearts of Chinese women that they feel unable to let out.
Chinese women are much more
modest than American women when it comes to clothes. We tend to show
less flesh.
I've discovered that I value
simplicity above all in dressing. I don't like anything I wear to be too
complicated or fussy.
Even though I've done
Hollywood films, I still don't think of myself as a Hollywood actress.
I always think it's really
hard if you are Asian or Chinese to be really in Hollywood. There are
not so many really great characters for you. I always think you are
lucky to get offered [something like] 'Memoirs of a Geisha', but I don't
think it will happen all the time.
But I enjoy being an actress a
lot, because I can feel different women's lives. I have the chance to
feel like a geisha one day, and on another day maybe a scientist. That's
the interesting part for me. My profession has helped me to grow up.
I don't like kick-ass
stereotypical roles. I already turn a lot down, even when they promise
me a lot of money. I really want to do something in Europe. With a small
movie, it can be an interesting challenge. But I have to get the right
project. I don't think it's so important to go to Hollywood. All that
trash that comes out of there! I don't want to do that.
Working in Hollywood, it's
clear the more money you have, the more technology you can get. So you
can build a whole Japanese set. Only in Hollywood! I couldn't believe
the first day I walked on the set. Rob Marshall walked me like a tourist
round the set. It took 40 minutes, so how big was that? Today it can be
winter, and tomorrow summer. Everything's unbelievable.
China's cinema has been rising for some time; it has more exposure, so
my chances of becoming internationally known are better. But the first
thing I have to do is learn English. If I can grasp the language, then
perhaps I can think about the U.S. .